Students in hallway looking at camera

Human Rights and Equity

The Hamilton‑Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to upholding human rights and advancing equity across all learning and working environments. 

Human rights and equity are foundational to student achievement, well‑being, positive school climates and inclusive work environment. 

HWDSB is committed to creating the conditions where all students, staff and families can thrive and contribute fully to our diverse and vibrant communities.

Human Rights and Equity Action Plan

Human Rights and Equity Action Plan 2023-2026 poster

 

Serving as a roadmap, the Human Rights and Equity Action Plan (2023-2028), works alongside the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan to outline key priority areas in identifying and addressing inequities and systemic barriers to contribute to the vision: To ensure that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future. 

Six areas of commitments are identified in this plan that help the Board to proactively identify and eliminate barriers that impact the achievement and well-being of students. The six priority areas and commitments are: 

  • Indigenous Educational Wellness,
  • Inclusive Classroom Pedagogies and Learning Environments,
  • Dismantling Anti-Black Racism, 
  • Anti-racist and anti-oppressive learning and working environments,
  • A culture of addressing human rights barriers, discrimination, and harassment; and
  • Employment Equity, Workplace Diversity and Inclusion.

Read the Action Plan

Learn More 

Addressing Anti-Black Racism Strategy

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to eliminating systemic anti-Black racism across all learning and working environments. In alignment with this commitment, HWDSB has adopted an Anti-Black Racism Policy with a vision of creating inclusive, culturally responsive and affirming learning and working environments for Black students, staff and families.

To realize the promises of the Policy, Addressing Anti-Black Racism in HWDSB: Strategy for Black Students’ Success and Well-being has been developed. 

The strategy is informed by the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s landmark 2025 report, Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System and the OHRC’s Anti-Black Racism in Education: Compendium of Recommendations.

Read more about the Strategy Here. 

We All Count: Student Census

We all Count: HWDSB Student Census is a voluntary and confidential student survey that collects identity-based data to identify and address systemic barriers.

The Anti-Racism Act, 2017 requires school boards to gather and report this data. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) finds that data collection can play an essential role to creating equitable outcomes and strong human rights strategies by helping organization identifying gaps in services.

We All Count | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

Disproportionality Data Report

Data about disproportionalities help us to understand how the education system is doing in serving different groups of students. Based on the Student Census collected in 2021-22 school year, a report was developed. The disproportionalities measured in this report are student outcomes including:

  • Suspensions and Expulsions
  • Academic Achievement
  • Attendance
  • Well-Being

Disproportionality Data Report | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

We All Count: Staff Census

We All Count: The HWDSB Staff Census is a voluntary and confidential self‑identification initiative that collects demographic information from HWDSB employees to better understand the diversity of its workforce. The census helps the Board identify patterns, gaps, and potential inequities across employment areas, and informs equity‑driven planning, policy development, and accountability efforts. By gathering this data, HWDSB strengthens its ability to create inclusive, representative, and equitable workplaces aligned with its human rights and equity commitments.

Employment Equity

An Employment Process Review (Equity Audit) at HWDSB is a systematic review of hiring and employment practices to identify and address potential systemic barriers, biases, or inequities. The review examines each stage of the employment process—such as job postings, recruitment, interviews, selection, and promotion—using both data and policy analysis. The goal is to ensure that employment practices are fair, transparent, and aligned with HWDSB’s commitments to human rights, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation, while supporting equitable outcomes for all.

Employment Process Review (Equity Audit)

Human Rights Office

The Human Rights Office (HRO) supports Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) in fostering a culture of respect for human rights in all HWDSB learning and working environments. The HRO’s mandate is to promote and protect the human rights of students, families, staff and the broader HWDSB community.

For more, go to the Human Rights Office page.

 

Policies and Procedures

 

Community Advisories

Faith Community Advisory Committee

HWDSB believes in ensuring high level of student, parent, community and staff participation and engagement. In support of this commitment to creating an equitable, inclusive, accessible and supportive environment, the Board of Trustees has established the HWDSB Faith Community Advisory Committee. 

The committee is responsible for providing the Board of Trustees and staff with advice on specific areas of Board policy or program consistent with the Education Act focusing on faith and creed based accommodation and inclusion. 

For more information about the committee, contact us at [email protected]

Human Rights and Equity Community Advisory Committee

HWDSB believes in ensuring high level of student, parent, community and staff participation and engagement. In support of this commitment to creating an equitable, inclusive, accessible and supportive environment, the Board of Trustees has established a Human Rights and Equity Community Advisory Committee in 2018. 

The committee is responsible for providing the Board of Trustees and staff with advice on specific areas of Board policy or program consistent with the Education Act focusing on equity, inclusion and human rights. 

For more information about the committee, contact us at [email protected]